Slip last



Aug. 20, 1946 G. CLAUSING SLIP LAST Filed Sept. 1, 1944 INVENTOR GERGEcmus/xvc W M ATTORNEYS Patentecl Aug. 20, 1946 2,405,942 SL AST GeorgeGlausing, Portsmouth, Ohio, assignor to Vulcan Corporation, Portsmouth,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio.

Application September 1, 1944, Serial No. 552,238

3 Claims. 1

Thi invention relates to shoe lasts and more particularly to the typeknown as slip lasts which are inserted into'the shoe after it has beensewed up and the upper has been sewed to the insole of the shoe.

Expansible and contractible lasts have bee provided for use in themanufacture of shoes where the upper is substantially completed before.the last is inserted. However, many. of the lasts of this type, asexemplified by the applicants Patents Nos. 2,047,309 and 2,065,655, whenin extended position, are not solid and depend on the use of "slides andother mechanism for their operation. The last of the present inventionalso differs from the usual hinged lasts which are flexed sothat theyare more readily removable from the finished shoe.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a slip lastwhich is substantially solid and full throughout, in its extendedposition, and'which is of. simple construction and easy to'operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slip last which may bevery substantially shortened for insertion and removal from a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slip last which can beremoved from the finished shoewithoutmarring its shape.

Animportant feature of the present invention is the provision of a shoelast divided into heel and" toe portion by a saw-cut which is at asubstantial acute angle to the normal axis of the last, or at asubstantial acute angle to the tread of the last. The surfaces formed bythe saw-cut provide sliding surfaces for the relative movements of. thetoe and heel sections so that the last may be shortened by sliding theheel and toe parts toward each other along the saw-cut under control ofa guiding and limiting link Another important feature of the inventionis to provide a slip last which can be materially shortened forinsertion into the sewed upper of a shoe, and which is provided with asimple means i for locking. it in extended lasting position so that thefinal. lasting operations can be carried out. The locking means of thepre'sentinvention is of simple design and readily operated for releasingthe last parts;

According to the preferred form of the invention, the improved sliplast: comprises a toe part and a heel part slidably movable relative toeach other on a forwardly and upwardly extending surface which is at anangle to the tread or bottom of the last. The last includesa connectinglink for the toe and heel parts for holding them together in alignmentand for limiting the relative movement of the heel and toe parts, thelink being at an obtuse angle to said surface when the heel part is inits normal extended position.

According to the present invention, the slidlng surface or surfacesbetween the heel and, toe parts of the last may be curved or straight,and other changes made within the scope of the invention. Other objects,features and advantages of the invention will also appear from thefollowing more detailed description thereof, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a last constructed in accordancewith the present inven-' tion, with parts broken away to show the linkin elevation and the locking means in section. The full line drawingshows the last in extended Dosition while the dotted heel portion showsthe last in shortened or contracted position.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to that of Fig. 1, showing a modified form oflast.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are broken side elevational view of further modifiedforms of the improved slip last of the present invention in which'thefull line drawing shows the last in its extended position while thedotted lines show the contracted arrangement.

Fig; 6 is a broken view showing a modification of the last of Fig. 5.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawing which shows a shoe last comprising a toe part H3 and a heel partl2 connected together by a relatively heavy fiat metal link l4 anchoredto the toe and heel parts by pins 16 and I8. The, toe and heel parts Itand-l2 are separated'by a stepped transverse out line l9 which extendsupwardly and forwardly from the forward portion of the heel seat throughthe upper portion of the instep of the last This cut may be at anysuitable angle with respect to thetread or axis of thelast. The cutprovides oppositely disposed flat engaging surface which match eachother exactly and shoulders which engage each other when the last isinextended position, as shown inthe full line view. In contractedposition the toe and heel parts are moved relative to each other withthe out line surfaces substantially in alignment to the dotted lineposition which very substantially shortens the last and permits itsinsertion into a sewed upper of a shoe. This shortening also permits itsready removal from a lasted shoe without marring its sharelast. Thisangle which is a substantial obtuse angle permits the movement of thelink to the dotted line position and a substantial reduction in thelength of the last. The link limits the extension of the last so thatthe cutsurfaces exactly match each other and a solid full last isprovided for the lasting and forming of the shoe.

The heel part I2 of the last is IOckedwVit'h'respect to the toe partwhen the last is in its ex' tended position by means of a lockingmechanism which operates between the surfaces o'fthe cut l9 above thelink M. The locking mean comprises a cylindrical member mounted in thetoe part which carries a plunger 22. The cylindrical member 20 istightly fitted'in a hole while the plunger 22 is forced outward from thecut surfaces of the toe part by means of a spring, as shown. The plunger22 extends substantially into a cylindrical member 24 inthe heel part tolock the parts of the last in their normal extended position. Theplunger 22 is disposed so as to be released from the heel part by meansof a plunger 253 mounted in the heel part and extendinginto thecylindrical member 24. The plunger 26 is keyed to the heel part of thelast by means of a pin set through a recess 28 in the side of theplunger 26. The heel portion of the last is released by depressing theplunger 26 and forcing the plunger 22 into the toe part in so that thecut surface of the heel part i slidable along the cut surface of the toepart to the dotted line position. The pin in'the recess 28 and theshoulder construction of the plunger 26 prevents'its'entry into thecylindrical member 29. When the heel part 12 is moved into extendedposition the spring-operated plunger 22 snaps the plunger '26 1 to itsoutward positio In making a last such as described in connection withFig. 1 of the drawing, the solid. last may be turned to the desiredshape, froma block of maple or any other suitablematerial andtoe andheel finished. The holes for the pins I 6 and 18 are then drilled andthe last sawed in. two along the line I9 as indicated, to provideseparate toe and heel positions. The slots for the link are then cut inthe toe and heel portions, preferably to one side of the center, so thatthe do not interfere with the hole for the locking mechanism. The lastis then assembled by anchoring the link in the slots by means of theanchor pins it} and |8.' It is then drilled centrally from the upperportion of the last to make thehole for'receiving the locking mechanismand that for the metal liner 38, which is provided for receiving 'a jackpin. The liner Silis then pressed into place and p the various parts ofthe locking mechanismare mounted inthe toe and heel portions.

The modified form of the slip last shownin Fig. 2 includes the same linkand lock construction as that of the last'shown in Fig.1, andidiffers"only 4 line which terminates at or near the top of the instep of thelast. In this form of the invention a substantially greater amount ofthe instep of the last is retained on the toe portion than in Fig. 1. Inoperation, the last of Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. l, but when theheel portion is released and moved forward, it follows the curve of theout line to the dotted line position as indicated. In making a shoe, thetoe portion H] is inserted in the sewed upper with the heel portion l2in the dotted line position, and then the heel portion is slid down theslope of the cut 82 into the heel of. the shoe, the heel portion l2therefore follows the arc of the out line 32 into the bottom of theshoe,'and forces the shoe into the desired shape.

The modified form of the slip last shown in Fig. '3 comprises a toeportion 34 which includes all of the instep portion of the last and aheel portion 36 attached by a link 14 and anchor pins i6 and H8. The toeand heel parts of the last in this instance does not include the entirevolume of the original last, but a certain portion is cutv away toprovide for the relative movement of the. heel and toe sections. The toesection has atrans-- verse surface 38 extending downward from the; topof the instep, a. curved surface All, a shoulder.- 42, and a lowercurved surface 44, all transverse. to the last. The heel part of thelast includes an. upper transverse surface 46,3, curved surface en...gaging the surface 40, and acu'rved'surface'engaging the surface 44. Theheel section also has. a shoulder surface 48 engaging the shoulder sur--face 42 of the toe section when the last is in extended position. Thecut out portion in the up-- per portion of the last leaves a transversespace between the surfaces 38, 49 and 46. When the: last is shifted tocontracted position, the. surface 46 is moved up toward the surface 38as indicated by the dotted line position of the heel part, while thecurved surfaces of the heel part slide along the surfaces 40 and 44.

When the last of Fig. 3 is in extended position, the shoulder 48 is inengagement with the shoulder 42 and. the toe and heel parts of the lastare held in this position by means of a round-headed snap catch 50,mounted in the surface 44'of the toe part. The round head of the catch5.0 pmjects into a ferrule 52 mounted in the surface of the heel part,so that the heel and toe parts of the last are held in extended positionunless sufiicient force is applied to overcome the spring in the snapcatch 50. Instead of having the surfaces 40, 44, and the correspondingsurfaces on the heel part, curved as shown, they may be straight, as inFig. l, and the intervening shoulder. also be present, or the surfacesmay be curved in the reverse direction, as in Fig. 2, and-the shoulderincluded.

A further modification of the slip last as shown in Fig. 4 includesthree parts, a toe part 54, a central part 56, and a heel part 58. vInthe normal position of the last, these parts fit together to form acomplete last without any cut out, portions, as clearly indicated by thefull line new. The central section has the general shape of a keystone,and when it is moved up to the dotted line position, the heel part movesin towardthe toe part to very substantially reduce 'the'length of thelast, as shown by its dotted lin position. The keystone section 56isanchored to the toe part by means of a link Bll'and anchor pins 62 and$4. It is also anchored to the heel part'by a link fifi a'nd anchor pins68 and T9; Whenthe last off- Fig. :4;is in extended position, thekeystone section 56 completely intervenes between the toe and heelfparts 54and 58 and'is provided with front and rear shoulders'which engage cor-'respondingly stop shoulders of thetoe and heel parts of the'last sothatthe parts are exactly positioned vertically. In this position the pins.65 and 68 are below theline between the pins 62 and '18, so that whenthe last is in a shoe, the keystone section will be firmly held betweenthe toe and heel parts of the last. This will be apparent from the factthat in order to have the pins 84 and 68 move above the line of the pins52 and lo, there would have to be some additional separation between thetoe and heel parts 54 and 58. The tension of the shoe upper holds thelast parts in normal position.

The links 63 and 66 are preferably relatively heav'y flat pieces ofmetal similar to links l4, and are set in vertical slots which maintainthe alignment of the respective parts of the last. When it is desired toinsert or remove the last from a J shoe upper, the keystone section 56is simply pulled up (by any suitable means) to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 4, thereby shortening the last. The last of Fig. 4 issimilar in function to the last of Fig. 1, because it is provided with atransverse out line between parts 54 and 56 which extends at an acuteangle to the longitudinal axis of the last. The use of the keystonesection 56 which moves upwardly, however, permits a substantiallyhorizontal movement of the heel part 58, so that it may be pusheddirectly back into the heel of the sewed shoe upper which is to bestretched to shape. The line or cut between parts 56 and 58 is also atan acute angle to the axis of the last and therefore contributes to theshortening of the last. Means other than the steps or engaging shouldersmay be used for correctly positioning the parts of the last.

Fig. 5 shows a slip last which is a modification of the last shown inFig. 1 and comprises a toe part l2 and a heel part 74 separated by atransverse broken saw-cut line it. The upper and lower straight portionsof the saw-cut line l'ii run in the same direction and are connected bya'step comprising a shoulder on the heel part 14 and a shoulder on thetoe part 12 which engage each other and determine the proper position ofthe toe and heel parts of the last when the last is in extendedposition. It will be noted that the saw-cut line 16 runs at an acuteangle to the axis of the last but in the opposite direction to that ofthe line I!) in Fig. l. A locking means comprising a fiat plate or bar18 is pivoted to the top of the heel part 74 and when in lookingposition one end overlies a portion of the toe part adjacent the lineHi. When the fiat bar or plate It is turned crosswise of the last, thetoe and heel parts may be moved relative to each other, that is, theheel part may be pushed down with respect to the toe part, or the toepart may be pulled up with respect to the heel part, and thereby shortenthe last for insertion into or removal from the upper of a shoe.

In Fig. 5, the saw-cut line 56 extends through the portion of the heelnormally mounting the thimble for the jack pin, and therefore thiselement of the last is shown as set in the toe part 12.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the last of Fig. 5 in which the saw-cutis curved. In this figure, the saw-cut is opposite to that in Fig. 2,and it will be noted that the toe and heel parts 12 and T4 are pivotedtogether by the same means, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and that a brokencurved transverse saw-cut line 80 extends from the upper porf 6 tion 0f:the .heel 1 partill, downwardly and forwardlytoand through the instep ofthe last. The

saw-rout lineBll is brokento provide a step ha ing engaging shouldersfor the parts [2 and -74 which determine theposition of the parts of.the last in its extended position, and which provide means .by which thetoe and heel parts are caused to match each other exactly. The lockingmeans may :be the same as in. Fig. 5.

Instead of having a single curved saw-cut line 80, as in Fig. 6, theimproved last may include two curved shouldered cuts, extending insubstantially opposite direction-s, somewhat like the sawcuts in Fig. 4,so that an intermediate part of the last is provided. Such anintermediate section may be pivoted by links to the toe and heelsections as in Fig. 4, and functions in the same manner as thekeystone-shaped part 56.

It is to be understood that in all the forms of the slip last, as shownand described, the sawcut lines may be unbroken and other stop meansused for insuring the proper matching of the respective parts of thelast in its full or extended position. In certain instances, such as forexample in Figs. 1 and 2, the locking means in connection with the linkl4 would be sufficient to insure the matching of the toe and heel partsof the last if the saw-cut l9 were a straight out or the curved saw-cut32 were a continuous curve.

A slip last made in accordance with the features of the presentinvention in any of the various modifications'may be used for themanufacture of shoes in the conventional way, but the slip last isparticularly useful and preferably used where the upper is previouslysewed to the inner sole, or sock-lining, and then pulled over the lastand the last extended. The outer sole as well as the heel may beattached to the shoe upper while it is still on the last, after whichthe last may be readily shortened by putting it on a jack post,unlatching or unlocking the two sections, collapsing the last tosubstantially shorten it, and then pull the last out of the shoe.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the slip last ofthe present invention may be used in various way, and may be modified incertain respects. Other modified forms may be made. These changes arecontemplated as coming within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, as defined by the claims.

Having described the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed asnew is:

1. A collapsible slip last adapted to be inserted into a sewed shoeupper and used in the forming and lasting of the shoe, comprising incombination a toe part and. a heel part separated from each other by anintermediate keystone-shaped part having matching engaging surfacesrespectively with the toe and heel parts of the last, said surfacesbeing substantially transverse to the last and at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the last, a link connecting the toe part to saidintermediate keystone-shaped part, a link connecting the heel part withsaid keystoneshaped part, the ends of the links connected to thekeystone-shaped part being below a line through the opposite ends of thelinks when the surfaces of the parts are in their normal engagingposition.

2. A collapsible slip last a defined by claim 1 in which said matchingengaging surfaces include a shouldered step for exactly positioning thetoe and heel parts with respect to the keystoneshaped part,

3. A shoe last, oomprisingin combination a toe part'and a heel partseparated from each other by an intermediate upright keystoneshaped parthaving shouldered surfaces respectively matching and engagingcorr'espondingsurfaces on the toe and heel parts of thelast, saidsurfaces being generally transverse to the last and at an acute angle tothe longitudinal axis of the last, a link connecting the toe part to 8said intermediate Keystone-shaped part, a link connecting the heel partto said keystone-shaped part; the ends of the links connected to thekeystone-shaped part being below a line through the opposite ends of thelinks when the surfaces of the parts are in their normal engagingposition, whereby the ,parts of the last are looked in extended positionby end compression of the last.

GEORGE CLAUSING.

